Deni MHAG was a joint winner of the 2024 NSW Mental Health Commissioner's Community Champion Award, which it shared with Tamil Resettlement and Community Konnect (TRACK Australia).
Deni MHAG president Alison Thorne and member Lourene Liebenberg attended the WayAhead Mental Health Matters Awards last Friday and accepted the award.
“There were 60 nominations, three finalists and two joint winners,” Mrs Thorne said.
“We are so very proud of the amazing work that this small group manages to achieve.
“We definitely punch above our weight.
“I want to say thanks to our dedicated band of volunteers.”
Presented annually by the Mental Health Commission of NSW, the commissioner’s awards recognise individuals and grassroots organisations that have made exceptional contributions to mental health and wellbeing in their communities.
Deni MHAG was nominated for its efforts in increasing mental health awareness and education through regular programs and a series of special events.
“Deni MHAG is a volunteer run, grassroots organisation which, for the past 21 years has actively worked to raise awareness of mental illness, reduce stigma, promote mental health and wellbeing and signpost the way to support for the Deniliquin rural community of about 8000 people,” the group’s citation read.
“Rural communities are more at risk of the impacts of mental health stigma, leading to a reduction in help-seeking and increased risk of social isolation.
“Deni MHAG actively works to minimise these risks, through promotional campaigns focusing on the ‘5 ways to Wellbeing’.”
In the 2023-24 financial year, Deni MHAG organised 12 community events for hard-to-reach groups such as farmers, youth, people with a disability, men and the indigenous community.
These events included:
• Mind Your Mental Health - an all-day face-to face regional conference to increase knowledge of mental health conditions, reduce stigma and increase awareness of services.
• Legless and Blind - a resilience roadshow delivered to more than 750 students in Years 5-12, and 250 women and 150 men.
• Mental health; It’s not as scary as you think - a Halloween event which saw more than 400 people engaged in activities and more than 40 businesses participating in a trick or treat event.
Mrs Liebenberg said Deni MHAG will now have another opportunity to showcase their programs and initiatives as a result of the award.
“We are excited that representatives from the commissioners' office will now be travelling to Deniliquin, in the near future, to do some promotional work for their website and to come and meet the rest of our volunteer group.”
Deni MHAG has been supporting the Deniliquin and district community for 21 years.
Executive committee members are Ms Thorne, Mrs Liebenberg, Lyn Bond, Dan Salmon, Kellie Seymour, Brenda Norman and Nat Sampson, and other elected members are Amy Salmon, Elizabeth Martin and Spencer McGill.
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